A 66-year-old Malvern man who fell from his scooter died through damage to his liver, an inquest heard.

David Wagstaff was riding his 250cc scooter on the A449 Malvern Road at Powick on Tuesday, February 7, when he lost his balance and collided with the central reservation and kerb.

At yesterday's inquest in Stouport-on-Severn, the county coroner Victor Round said that Mr Wagstaff, of Geraldine Close, was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, but he died of his injuries.

"To begin with at A&E, they didn't think he was in all that much danger, but he died an hour later," he said.

Mr Round said the self-employed builder died of shock and haemorrhaging due to cuts of his liver sustained during the accident.

"He had a lot of fractured ribs and it may be that the ribs damaged the liver," added Mr Round. A police report which was read out at the inquest said Mr Wagstaff's scooter had collided with a traffic island which had a high kerb, which sent the vehicle out of control.

PC Tritton reported that the back tyre of the scooter was substantially under-inflated and the kerb markings on the island were not clear - although they had been renewed since the accident happened.

Mr Round said he was unsure how relevant the road markings would have been in this case, because Mr Wagstaff was a local man and might have been familiar with the road.

Following Mr Wagstaff's death, his family spoke of the pain they felt that he would not live to see his first grandchild.

Mr Wagstaff, a former Ledbury Grammar School pupil, was a mature student of environmental studies at the University of Worcester.

He was well known in Malvern for his sporting abilities, having played football and cricket in the area.

He left behind four children, Claire, Kristina, Kirsty and Howard.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.